Curcumin complexation with cyclodextrins by the autoclave process: Method development and characterization of complex...

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Science
• Materials Science
• Physical Chemistry

Background:

• Enhancing curcumin (CUR) aqueous solubility is crucial for its therapeutic applications.
• Cyclodextrins (CDs) are widely used to form inclusion complexes, improving the solubility of hydrophobic drugs like CUR.
• Limited research exists on utilizing the autoclave process (AU) for CUR:CD complex formation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the autoclave process as a method for enhancing CUR solubility via CD complexation.
• To compare the efficacy of the AU process against freeze-drying (FD) and evaporation (EV) methods.
• To confirm the stability and characterize the CUR:CD inclusion complexes using various analytical techniques.

Main Methods:

• Complexation of CUR with CDs using three methods: autoclave (AU), freeze-drying (FD), and evaporation (EV).
• Solubility studies to determine the saturation solubility of CUR from the prepared complexes.
• Characterization of CUR:CD complexes using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Raman spectroscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD).

Main Results:

• Significant differences in CUR saturation solubility were observed among the three complexation methods.
• The AU process yielded CUR:CD inclusion complexes with the highest aqueous solubility of CUR.
• Characterization confirmed CUR encapsulation within the CD cavity, maintained CUR chemical integrity, and indicated a transformation to an amorphous form in AU complexes.

Conclusions:

• The autoclave process is an efficient and rapid method for forming CUR:CD inclusion complexes with enhanced solubility.
• AU offers a viable alternative to traditional methods like FD and EV for drug:CD complexation.
• The study confirms the stability and successful complexation of CUR within CDs using the AU method.